Device for mechanically sorting natural and artificial products according to their color and gradations of color



1,874,069 FICIAL PRODUCTS OF COLOR 5 Sheets-Sheet l A. WEIGL LY SORTING NATURAL AND ARTI EIR COLOR AND GRADATIONS Filed June 6.

DEVICE FOR MECHANICAL ACCORDING TO TH Aug Aug. 30, 1932. WEIGL 1,874,069

' DEVICE FOR MECHANICALLY SORTING NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL PRODUCTS ACCORDING TO THEIR COLOR AND GRADATIONS OF COLOR Filed June 6, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwwmtoz;

Aug. 30, 1932. A. WElGL 1,874,059

DEVICE FOR MECHANICALLY SORTING NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL PRODUCTS ACCORDING TO THEIR COLOR AND GRADATIONS OF COLOR Filed June 6, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 W Pk E; x n a Li l Aug. 30, 1932. wElGL 1,874,069

DEVICE FOR MECHANICALLY SORTING NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL PRODUCTS ACCORDING TO THEIR COLOR AND GRADATIONS OF COLOR Filed June 6, 1927 5 SheetsSheet 4 25 w 0 jixa 7/2 20 Sal jnucniom Aug. 30, 1932. wElGL 1,874,069

DEVICE FOR MECHANICALLY SORTING NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL PRODUCTS ACCORDING TO THEIR COLOR AND GRADATIONS OF COLOR Filed June 6, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 J o e 1 a 29x8. 2/! M 2/0 6 0 2/5 e a 66 O 0 Q o O O o o O o 209 209 2/5 Patented Aug. 30, 1932' UNITED STATES ARTHUR WEIGL, OF

DEVICE FOR MEGHANICALLY SORTING MUNICH, GERMANY NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL rnonucrs ACCORDING TO THEIR COLOR AND GRADATIONS F .COLOR Application filed June 6, 1927, Serial No. 196,971, and in Germany June, 9; 1 926.

Machines for sorting or grading coffee beans and other natural and artificial products according to their color by using selenium cells are already known.

In consequence of their lag however, the use of selenium cells render reliable sorting difiicult or impossible. Attempts have been made to balance the lag of the selenium cells by connecting up two cells in a suitable 111' manner. In the first place, however, it is extraordinarily difficult and tedious to tune the two selenium cells suitably and to maintain the equilibrium, so that the lag phenomena of the selenium cells cannot be 1- permanently avoided. Finally the illumination of the selenium cells in succession necessitates a complicated optical and mechanical apparatus and also double the period of illumination. The latter is par- 29 ticularly disadvantageous since as a result of the lag of the period of illumination of. each selenium cell is already comparatively long in order to obtain the necessary measurements. Further in order to obtain accurate measurements the bodies to be sorted have to be led individually to the source oflight and the various shapes and sizes of the individual bodies have to be taken into account in the illumination. ,None of the known arrangements, however, excludes the possibility of two or more bodies being conveyed simultaneously to the sphere of illumination, nor has any of them taken into account the very varied shapes and sizes of the bodies, so that a large number of errors in sorting or grading occur and thus the value of such a machine is illusory.

For these reasons it is impossible to obtain a continuous economical working free from errors with the arrangements hitherto usual and machines of this type have so far not been constructed and used in practice.

The invention relates to an apparatus for sorting and grading natural and artificial products according to their color and gradations of color, in which the inconveniences described are avoided by the selenium cells being replaced by photo-electric cells, which are not subject to the disturbing properties of the selenium cells, as they are practically free from lag and withthe velocity of measurement in the case uncler'consideration give reliable and accurate results, and by the fact that the bodies, no matter what their shape and size, are, exposed to the illumination singly and in the'most advantageous osition for measurement," whereby a relia le and rapid sorting is carried out without any mistakes.

One form of construction of the apparatus according to the invention is shown in the drawings, in which: 5

Fig. l'is a diagrammatic vertical sectional view showing the arrangement of operatingparts. I

Fig. 1a is a plan view of the turning elements.

Fig. 1b is a diagrammatical vertical sectional view of the same, just after the introduction of an article.

Fig. 1c is a view similar to Fig. 1?), but showing the turning elements in moved position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary diagrammatic vertical, sectional v1ew showing the devices for presenting an. article to the viewing opening, with the centering devices separated.

Fig. 2a is a horizontal plan view corresponding to Fig. 2, with the centering devices brought together.

Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram of the photoelectric inspecting element and associated parts.

Fig. 3a is a view of amodified form of selecting apparatus for determining the receptacle into which the article is to be deposited.

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are perspective views showing the assemblage of parts of an operating machine with duplicate turning and positioning devices.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the relationship of the driving shaft and movable plates.

v The bodies are fed in through a hopper 1 to which is adjoined an additon'al hopper divided into a forward chamber 3a and a rear chamber 36 by a vertical sliding partition A slide 4 which moves up and down periodically and carries at the top end a vertically 109 yieldably held trou h-shaped dish 5, passes throu h the base'o the rear chamber 35.

A fixed nozzle 6, which is connected on one hand with a suction air pipe 7 and on the other hand with a blowing air pipe 8, is provided above the slide 4 in the rear chamber 35. The suction and blowing air is regulated automatically by a valve 9. A needle is displaceable in the nozzle 6 and on its downward movement projects out of the same. This needle is moved by a connecting rod 10m in Figs. 1 and 4.

An ejector 11 operated by a link 1111: is provided between the nozzle 6 and the arm 4 and performs a periodic oscillating motion about a horizontal axis so that when the arm 4 is lowered, it is located below the nozzle 6, whilst on the upward movement of the arm 4 it is swung out of the plane of movement of the same.

The ejector 11 is connected with a turning bar 13 by means of a pipe or conduit 12, the bar 13 effecting a periodical oscillating motion in its longitudinal direction. A rockable stop flap 14 is constructed in the pipe 12.

Above the bar 13 a stationarycage15,which is open at the top, is provided, the intermediary wall of which is constructed as a rockable passage flap 17 which divides the cage 15 into two compartments 18 and 19 (Figure 1b). The rear wall 16 of the cage 15 is displaceable in a forward direction underneath the flap 17 in the compartment 19 by means of a pawl 20 engageable in a notch 20a in the bar 13 itself, in which movement it strikes the flap 17: and as a result of the release of the pawl 20 by the'stationary rod or pin 20a is moved backwards by the action of spring 208 whereon the flap 17 closes by means of spring action (Figures 1?) and 10).

Alongside the bar 13 there is also a window bar 21 and above this and rigidly connected therewith a window attachment 22 with a circular window 23.

A centering mechanism (Figures 2 and 2a) in which two suitably shaped centering bars 24 and 25 move in opposite directions between I the window bar 21 and the device 22, is arranged at rightangles to the direction of movement of the bars 13 and 21.

The circular window 23 is exactly symmetrically disposed relatively tothe closed centering jaws 24 and 25. A spring mounted prism 28, mounted on the window bar 21 which, on the centering jaws 24 and 25 approaching one another, is forced back to a suitable extent by the sliding faces of side elements 26 and 27 (Figure 2a), is inserted between the suitably shaped side elements 26 and 27 of the centering jaws 24 and 25.

A connecting rod 29 which is yieldable is moved by mechanical means in a vertical direction below the window 23 passing through the window bar 21.

The rays of light from a source of light turned towards the objective 39 is at right angles to the optical axis and is either highly polished or a mirror.

A screen 42, an optical shutter or cut-off 69 and a suitably tuned'light-filter 43 are arranged in the'path of the rays. between the objective 39 and the photo-electric cell 41. The photo-electric cell 41 is electr cally connected with a heated cathode amplifying valve 44. One form of construction of the diagram of connections of this arrangement is shown in Figure 3.

The light-sensitive coating 40 of the photoelectric cell 41 is connected with the negative pole of a battery 45 of suitable voltage whilst the anode 46 of the photo-electric cell 41 is connected by as short a lead as possible and highly insulated to the regulating grid 47 of the amplifying valve 44. A constant high leak resistance 50 is located between the controlling grid 47 and the incandescent filament 49 of the amplifying valve44 which is supplied by a battery 48. The ,anode 51 and the dissipating grid 52 of the amplifying tube 44 are connected to the positive pole of a bat tery 53, the negative pole of which is connected with the negative end of the incandescent filament 49 to which is also connected the positive pole of the battery 45.

A relay 54 with two coils 55 and 56 is arranged so that the coil 55 is in the circuit of the anode 51 of the amplifying valve 44 and the coil 56 is in the circuit of the dissipating grid 52 of the amplifying valve 44. The two relay coils 55 and 56 act in differential circuit on two armatures 57 and 58 of the relay 54.

If a contact 59 of the armature 58 and a contact 6O ofthe armature 57 are closed the electro-magnet 61 which is supplied by a battery 62 will actuate an armature 63.

If the contact 59 of the armature 58 and the contact 64 of the armature 57 are closed none of the electro-magnets is actuated.

When the contact 65 of the armature 58 and contact 64 of the armature 57 are closed an elzectro-magnet 66 will actuate an armature 6 A mechanically actuated contact 68 is inserted in the common back connection of the magnet coils 61 and 66 to the battery 62.

l blowing pipe with mouth 30 directed on to the space below the window 23 and connected with the blowing air pipe 8 is arranged bewteen the window bar 22 and the window 23 (Figure 1).

,5, 6, 7 and 8). The shaft 201 carries a gear 202 meshing with a similar gear 2021; on a vertical shaft 203. (Fig. 8) which carries a cam 204 having cooperating therewith av crank arm 212 connected to rock shaft 211.

This shaft 211 also has fixed thereto an arm 212 pivotally connected to the plate 21 so that, as the motor turns, the cam 204 causes the reciprocation of the plate 21 in one direction while the plate is returned in the opposite direction by the return spring 213 which operates upon rock shaft 211. The upper end of shaft 203 is provided with an offset pin 203w engaged in a groove in the bottom of the angular member 204m (Figs. 4 and 8) connected to plate 13, and serves for reciprocat ing the plate 13 in proper timed relationship to the plate 21.

The mechanism is shown as provided with two hoppers 1, 1a: and it will be understood. that where a part for one of the hoppers is referred to by a numeral, the corresponding part for the other hopper will have the same numeral with the superscript a.

The reciprocating plate 13 carries the bracket and pin members 1400, 14am for engagement with the flap doors 14, 14a at alternate ends of the stroke of the plate 13, whereby to open the corresponding flaps 14, 14a and permit the single coffee bean to fall down onto the reciprocating plate 13.

Likewise mounted on the shaft 201 (Fig. 7) are the two cam members 210, 21011 which cooperate with the roller bearing rockers 2991, 29am to move the plungers 29, 29a upward and downward as described above. A cam 208 is likewise mounted on the shaft 201 and cooperates with the links 209 to cause reciprocation of the arms 215 which are connected to and move the centering members 24, 25. Return springs 214, 214a are mounted between these arms 215, 215a to draw them toward each other.

A gear drive 207 (Fig.6) between shaft 201 and the parallel shaft 206 causes the movement of this latter shaft and therewith of the cam 112 thereon, whereby to move the rock members 11y, llya and therewith the thrust rods 1100, 1100a, which control the movement of the discharge or divert chute 11, 11a (Figs. 4, 5 and 6). Return springs 11's, 118a are employed to return the discharge chutes 11, 110 after actuation by their res ctive rods.

n the face of the cam 112 is a crank pin for the crank rod 40: which is pivotally connected to the plunger 4and serves to move this plunger in timed relationship to the other parts of the mechanism.

Rods 10m and 1001a serve to rock the needle 10 at proper times as determined by the driving of these rods from respective cams 220 on the second shaft 206.

The shaft 201 also carries an insulating sleeve 221 having contact plates 222-thereon to engage with brushes 68, 72 at definite intervals whereby to' close the several switches indicated as 68, 72 in Fig. 3.

The apparatus described operates as follows: The bodies pass from the filling hopper into the chamber 3a and from this with I a suitable adjustment ofthe sliding partition 2, havingregard to the sliding angle of the upward movement the slide picks up several small bodies in the dish '5 and conveys them opposite the fixed nozzle 6. The bodies cannot be damaged in this operation owing to the spring mounting of the dish 5. The suction air pipe 7 then comes into operation and by suitablyadjusting the suction force and the nozzle 6, only attracts one body to the nozzle orifice whereon the slide 4 together with the dish 5 immediately moves downwards again. Simultaneously with this op-- eration commences the oscillating movement of the ejector 11 and then the downward movement of the needle. The needle 10 forces the body from the nozzle 6 into the ejector 11 which has in the meantime swung under the latter. The action of ,the needle 10 is aided by the blowing air flowing out of tion with the needle 10 completely cleans the nozzle 6 from any skin, husk or other impurities adhering to it so that the nozzle is again absolutely clean on sucking up the next body.

The ejector 11 now swings out of the path of the slide which is again moving upwards. and conveys the body received from the nozale 6 into the pipe 12 which allows the same to fall on to the stop flap 14 The falling movement of the body is stopped by the latter which then-opens and allows the body to slide, with as'small a drop as possible into the compartment 18 of the cage over the bar 13. This then moves for example, to the left and takes the body lying on it along with it, owing to the friction, until it strikes against the movable rear .wall 16 of the cage (Figures 1a and 1b) In thecase of coffee beans, for example, they are then turned over on to their flat side which isnecessary for further treatment, if the individual bean upon the reciprocating bar 13 is located with its flat side uppermost. As the bar moves toward the'left in Fig. 1b, the bean is brought against the rear wall 16, of the cage, and by continued friction of the bar upon the bean, the latter is caused to roll relatively-about a horizontal axis until it rolls over onto its flat side. On reversal of'the bar 13 the body is moved in the opposite direction into the compartment 18 of the cage until itstrikes against the closed flap 17 acting as an intermediate wall and here again if necessary it may be turned over. The. movable rear wall 16 is moved forward by a pawl 20 along with the bar 13 itself, shortly before the. end position of the latter, and at the same time strikes the flap 17. The body thus passes freely and with certainty under the open'flap 17- into the compartment 19 of the cage. .Thus the body is positively moved past the flap 17 at the right moment regardless of whether the friction of the bar 13 upon the bean is sufficient or not, and re gardless of any retardation for any cause. In this way, any stoppage or clogging produced by the presence of more than one bean in compartment 19, (i. e., as might occur if a bean remained in the compartment 18 until joined by the next selected bean), and the accompanying disturbances and errors in sorting, are eliminated. Shortly before reaching the end position of the turning bar 13 the pawl 20 is released by means of a stop 20 and the rear wall 16 returns under spring action and the flap 17 closes.

Immediately on return of the rear wall 16 the flap 14 on which the next body rests, opens so that the latter now slides into the compartment 18 of the cage and is treated similarly as the previous one. The body in the compartment 19 of the cage is again moved to the left against the closed flap 17 by the bar 13 where it can undergo a third turning, if need be. It will be understood that the second and third turnings referred to may be accomplished only if the bean has not been properly reversed at the first turning; or if for any reason the bean shall have again come into a position in which the flatter side is again uppermost. On the next approach of the bar 13 the body is carried along with it until it strikes against a supporting spring 17a of the centering mechanism (Fig. 2a) the two centering jaws 24 and of which have in the meantime, moved at right angles to the direction of movement of the turning bar 13 and window bar 21. The body lying on the supporting spring 17a of the centering jaw 24 from the turning bar 13 on to the window bar 21 whilst at the same time the second centering jaw 25 approaches site side and the body thus rests between the two centering jaws 24 and 25, the distance between which is determined by the size of the effects to be obtained from the oppobody enclosed. If this is small the centering jaws 24 and 25 approach correspondingly near to one anotherthe prisms 28 being forced back by the sliding surfaces of the side elements 26 and 27until the body enclosed takes up the excess pressure of the centering jaws 24 and 25. In the case of larger bodies this movement of the centering jaws 24 and 25 of course occurs slightly earlier the prism 28 being accordingly forced backwards to a lesser extent. The movement of the centering jaws 24 and 25 is thus positive, and yet resilient by suitably arranged springs.

If now the body is in this manner symmetrically located under the window 23 and for example in the case of coffee beans, as a result of the turning described above, always on its flat side it is mechanically raised so as to fix this position and is pressed against the window 23 by the vertically movable spring connecting rod 29 the'stroke of which is limited by this springing relatively to the body itself thus preventing the latter being damaged. As the centres of the connecting rod 29 and the window 23 are exactly in align-,

ment and the centering jaws 24 and 25 when closed, enclose the connecting rod 29 t-.e body is exactly centered relatively to the window 23. This is necessary in order to give the body an absolutely definite position with regard to the source of light and the further optical apparatus. The position of the body limited by the window 23 is uniformly illuminated from all sides by bending the rays of light from a source of light in a housing 35a through a condenser 36 on to a concave mirror 37 p and from the'latter on to the window 23 and accordingly on to the body secured under' the same. The light reflected from the body is then projected through a hole 38 in the concave mirror 37 on to an obj ective 39 which converges the light on to the light-sensitive coating 40 of the photo-electrie cell'41. The reflecting edge of the window 23 prevents diffused reflected light from reaching the objective 39. j

The screen 42 which is arranged in the path ofthe rays of the objective 39 ofthe photoelectric cell 41 and which is so dimensioned relatively to the window 23 that only the diffused reflected light from the body section reaches the photo-electric cell 41 cuts off all other rays of light particularly those which are reflected from the edge of the window 23.

The tuning of the light filter 43 arranged in front of the photoelectric cell 41 is so effected that the curve of sensitivity of the photoelectric cell 41 is approximately the same as the curve of physiological sensitivity of the human eye, or that the photo-electric if necessary reach a maximum by contrasting effects.

Many bodies, for example coffee beans, do not completely fill. up the circular window 23 as a result of their different shapes, but on the other hand there always remains a free slit at each of the two long sides of the bean, between the latter and the edges of the window which are not filled by the bean and which direction of the bean is-altered by the rotation so that the short sides of the bean take the place of the long sides, or any other intermediate position of the bean is obtained, then a different photo-metric result is caused by the altered position of the uncovered portion i. e., in spite of the factthat it is the same bean and exactly the same optical arrangement is made a different measurement and thus a grading result is obtained. -This source of error which is of considerable importance for the correct functioningof the apparatus, is absolutely avoided by the arrangement described.

Under these arrangements the bodies are always illuminated under absolutely uniform conditions. The area of the section of the upper surface of each body, exactly centered under the window 23. and is at the same distance on the one handfrom the source of light and on the other from the photo-electric cell 41 illuminated and acting on the latter is always constant, limited by the window 23. I

The resistance of the photo-electric cell 41 is varied under the influence of the illumination at any time and is electrically connected with a heated cathode amplifying valve 44, preferably a two grid valve.

If no light impulses are received by the cell its resistance is practically infinite. No photo-ions pass over inside the cell; the anode is not negatively charged but has the same potential as the controlling grid 47 of the amplifying valve 44 and the negative end of the filament 49. The anode current is for example a maximum and the dissipating grid current a minimum. Y

H a light impulse is received by the grid 41 a photo-current is set up inside the cell. The anode of the cell 41 and also the controlling grid 47 of the amplifying valve 44 are negatively charged, the amount of charge being determined by the condition of the equilibrium between the photo-current passing in the cell 41 and the current flowing through the leak resistance 50. The greater the amount of light impinging on the cell 41 the greater is the'voltage set up in the control grid 47 of the amplifying valve 44. The anode current of the amplifying valve 44 drops owing to the negative charge of the control grid 47 Whilst the current in the which is always dissipating grid increases at the same time. The photo-current passing in the cell 41 is proportional to the amount of light imping ing thereon. The variation of the anode or dissipating grid currents in the amplifying valve 44 is accordingly also a function of the amount of light impinging.

The relay 54, the two coils 55 and 56 of I.

which act in a diiferential circuit on the two armatures 57 and 58, acts as a means for evaluating the measurement by the photoelectric cell'as the anode and dissipating grid v characteristic lines of a two grid valve show similar but opposite behaviour on suitably selecting the corresponding voltages.

The relay 54 acts for example as follows (a) For every dark body located under the window 23 by which the cell 41 remains practically unilluminated, in such a manner that on a maximum of the anode current corresponding to a minimum of the dissipating grid current'the contact 59 of the armature 58 and the contact 60 of the armature 57 are 'closed whereby the electro-magnet 61 actuates the armature 63.

(b) For each light body'located under the window 23 by which the cell 41.is powerfully illuminated, in such a way that on a minimum of the anode current, for example zero,-corresponding to a maximum of the dissipating grid current, the contact 65 is closed by armature 58 and the contact 64 by the armature 57 whereby the electromagnet 66 actuates the armature 67. v a

(c) For each body located under the win? dow 23 the color of which lies between dark and light, whereby the cell 41 is illuminated to a medium degree, in such a way that with an anode or dissipating grid current midway between a maximum and minimum, the contact 59 is closed by the armature 58 and the contact 64 remains closed by armature 57, owing to the differential action of the coils 55 and 56, which cause movement by attraction of the armature 58 but. leave the armature 57 in the position of rest.

The contact 68 only closes the circuit when the relay 54 has been suitably adjusted and opens it again before the relay 54 is diflerently adjusted as a result of thevariation of the anode or dissipating grid current, so that the relay .contacts are only controlled when no current is passing.

The optical instant when the cell 41 is to be illuminated and is closed again after the illumination so that every other different light impulse from that which is given by the body located under the fixed window 23, for example by the window frame 22 is cut off. The body. centered and pressed under the window 23 is conveyed with the window bar 22 into the path of the rays from the light source 35 and after reaching this position, whereon the optical shutter 69 is opened, the body section located in the window 23 is subjected to the illumination which gives a corresponding light impulse to the cell 41. The relay .54 adjusts itself accordingly, the contact 68 closes the circuit for the magnet-61 or 66 to be operated by this adjustment whereby acorresponding sorting or grading flap 32 is opened. The con'- tact 68 then breaks, the optical shutter 69 is closed, the connecting rod 29 moves downwards and releases the body. An electromagnetic or mechanical retention contact retains the grading flap 32 open after the period of closure of the contact 68. The body which has been illuminated is forced out of the blow pipe 30 by the blast of air which is continuously acting, into the escape 31 and in the latter into the compartment 34 released by the opened sorting or grading flap 32. The sorting flap 32 which has been forcibly kept open is again released and closes.

Two separate single relays which are both regulated in common by the anode or dissipating grid current may be used for example instead of a double armature relay 54.

In order that the bodies shall be delivered from the filling hopper l in regular succession without interruption or loss of time, two hoppers 1, 1a each having a forward chamber 3a and a rear chamber 36 and each provided with an arm 4, suction nozzle 6, ejector 11, pipe 12, supporting flap l4, cage 15 and centering jaws 24 and 25 are for example, arranged alongside one another in the direction of movement of the turning bar 13. The turning bar 13 and window bar 21 are on the contrary only provided singly whilst the window frame 22 is provided with two windows 23 alongside one another in the direction of movement of the bars 13 and 21.

According to the invention, the filling hopper and forward hopper may also be combined in such a way that practically only one hopper is provided from which the bodies are abstracted singly in suitable sequence in order to be conveyed as described above to two or a multiple of two working positions.

The connection d agram described is intended for sorting or grading into two or three values of shade or color. tions may also of course be used for sorting or gra'dinc into as many values of shade or color as desired. In this case a rotating coil galvanometer 7 3. 7 5 is inserted in the anode current circuit of the amplifying tube 43 instead of the relay 43. The galvanometer arm is deflected according to the amount of light impinging on the cell 41, the value of which at any moment corresponds to the value of the anode current oscillating for example between zero and the maximum. Ac-

cording to its adjustments the galvanometer closes one of a series of contacts 74 each of which contacts -is associated with a corresponding sorting or grading flap 32 and elec- The connectromagnet 61, 66. Thus it is possible to use the angle of divergence of the galvanometer usually allowed, namely 90 to actuate a. suitable number of contacts or grading flaps with electromagnets i. e., to sort or grade according to a suitable number of degrees of shade or color. a

The arrangement described by way of example with a light source and photo-electric cell is one stage of the apparatus which has a certain quantitative capacity. In order to obtain any suitable quantitative performance a corresponding number of steps must be coupled together.

I declare that what I claim is 1. A-sorting or grading machine for natural and artificial products according to their color and gradations of color and having a light sensitive selecting device, comprising a periodically reciprocating slide, a trough actuated by said slide, said slide and trough being adapted for taking up individual products from a general mass, and means to receive the product and to position it individually before the selecting device.

2. A sorting or grading machine for natural and artificial products according to their color and gradations of color, and having a light sensitive selecting device comprising a periodically reciprocating slide, a trough carried by said slide, said slide and trough being adapted for taking up individual products from a general mass,- and means toreceive the individual product and present it before the selecting device. Y

3. A sorting or grading machine for natural and artificial products according to their color and gradations of color, and having a light sensitive selectingdevice, comprising a periodically reciprocating slide, ried by said slide, said slide and trough being adapted for taking up individual products,

a suction nozzle adapted to pickup an individual product from said trou h, reciprocating needle within said nozzle a apted to force 110, away said individual product from said-nozzle in the retreatingmovement of said trough and means for receiving said individual product from said nozzle and for delivering it to said selecting device. I

4. A sorting or grading machine for natural and artificial products according to their color and gradations of color, and having a light sensitive selecting device, comprising a periodicallyreciprocating slide, atrough 120 carried by said slide, said slide and trough being adapted for taking up individual products, a suction nozzle adapted to pick up an individual product from said trough, a rea trough car- 105 ceiving said individual product from saidnozzle and for presenting it to a. selecting detrough, blast producing means adapted to.

clean said suction nozzle, an oscillating ejector adapted to receive said individual product from said nozzle, said ejector moving into and out of a line joining said nozzle and said trough, and means for receiving said individual product from said ejector and for presenting it to the selecting device. I

6. Asorting or grading machine for-natural and artificial products according to their color and gradations of color, and having a light sensitive selectmg device, comprising a periodically reciprocating slide, a trough carried by said slide, said slide and trough.

being adapted for taking up individual prod ucts,'a suction nozzle adapted to pick up an individual product from said trough, a reciprocating needle within said nozzle adapted to force away said individual product from said nozzle in the retreating movement of said trough, blast producing means adapted to clean said suction nozzle, an oscillating ejector adapted to receive said individual product from said nozzle, said ejector moving into and out of a line joining said nozzle and said trough, a flap at the base of said reciprocating ejector, a reci rocating bar adapted to receive the product rom said flap, and means for receiving said individual product from said ejector and for presenting it to the selecting device.

7. A machine for mechanically sorting natural and artificial products such as coffee beans or similarly shaped articles according to their color and gradations of color, and having a light sensitive selecting device, comprising a horizontally travelling support, means to place the article one at a time on said support, means to move said support, a cage located above said supportto surround an article, so that the support will move the article against the cage during its movement by frictional contact therewith, whereby the engagement of said cagev with said article will insure the positioning of the article fiat side down upon the support,

and means to transfer the article to said selecting device.

8. A machine for mechanically sorting natural and artificial products such as coffee beans or similarly shaped articles accord ing to their color-and gradations of color,

support, means to-plaee the artlcle one at a time on said support, means to move said and having a light sensitive selecting device, comprising. a horizontally travelling support, a cage located above said support to surround an article, a movable door 'di-' Q -viding said cage in-to compartments, thearticle being delivered by .said placing means into one of said compartments, said travellingsupport'serving to transport the article to the othericompartment past said door, said support and door being adapted to engage said article toproduce a positioning of said article with its flat side down it brought against said door with the flat side up and means to transfer the article to said select ing device.

' I 9, A sorting machinelas in claim 8, includ ingmeans tojreturn said flap'after the article has passed the same, said support moving means being adapted to reverse the movement of said support whereby the article is again brought into contact with said flap to insure a positioning of. the article with its flat side down.

10. A sorting machine eluding article presenting means having a window opposite said selecting device, said window being oflsetlaterally from said support, a gripping device to engage the article on said support and means to operate said as in claim 8 in-v gripping device to remove the article from said support and present it at said-window.

11. A sorting machine as in claim- 8, in-

cluding gripping means for engaging the article, said gripping means having jaws with projections thereon, a spring actuated prism cooperating with said projections to insure symmetrical gripping of the individual article, presenting means including a window ofiset laterally from said support and located opposite said selecting device, and means to actuate said gripping means whereby to cause the latter to seize and remove said article from the support and present it adjacent to said window.

. 12. A machine for mechanically sorting natural and artificial products such'as coffee beans .or similarly shaped articles according to their color and gradations of color and having a light sensitive selecting de-,

vice, means to select individual articles and place them in a predetermined position with respect to their flat sides, presenting means having a window with an aperture smaller than the product to be sorted whereby to leave free a constant superficial area, said window being located opposite said selecting device, and devices to grip the individually located article and present it with its non-' flat side adjacent said window for inspection bysaid selecting device.

13. A sorting mach'ne asin claim 12, in-

eluding an illuminating device comprising a source of light and a mirror having an aperture through which said selecting device may operate and having its reflective surface adapted to project its rays of light from its source upon the article.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature:

ARTHUR WEIGL. 

